the use of reading as an ameliorative adjunct to therapy
Derived forms
bibliotherapeutic (ˌbɪbliouˌθerəˈpjuːtɪk)
adjective
bibliotherapist
noun
Word origin
[1915–20; biblio- + therapy]This word is first recorded in the period 1915–20. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: GI, costar, decoder, neorealism, sovietbiblio- is a combining form occurring in loanwords from Greek (bibliography). On this model, biblio- is used in the formation of compound words with the meaning “book” (bibliophile), and sometimes with the meaning “Bible” (bibliolatry, on the model of idolatry)
Examples of 'bibliotherapy' in a sentence
bibliotherapy
There is also 'bibliotherapy', a bespoke book recommendation service and a dining club.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She is working on wartime bibliotherapy, 1914-1918.
The Times Literary Supplement (2018)
You can book him to read anything you like, or to give you a dose of what he calls 'bibliotherapy'.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Among their evening and weekend courses is bibliotherapy - based on the premise that books make you feel better.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The reader is assumed to be suffering from some unspecified ailment, and in need of bibliotherapy.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
That's the novel idea behind bibliotherapy, a new 'treatment' that uses books to sort people's problems.